Coated caustic-alkali ball



- suits that the larger part of melted material PATENT OFrieE.

AARON MENDTIESON, OF ALBANY, NEV YORK.

COATED CAUSTI SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters C-ALKALl BALL.

Patent No. 229,161, dated June 22, 1880.

Application filed September 10, 1879.

To all whom 111; may concern:

Be it known that LAAnoN MENDLESON, oi the city of Albany, State of New? Yosh have im ented a new and useful Improvement in the M anutacture ot' Caustic-Alkali Balls, of which the following is a specification.

The nature oi my invention consists in providing an extra thickness of coating material at the sprucpoint of the ball, the extra thickness being a seal in the form of a boss.

In the manufactureof alkali balls the fused alkali is east in metallic molds similar to bullet-molds, and the end of? a short wire is often inserted into the ball at the spree-hole while the alkali. is still melted in the mold. The wire thus being cast into or attached to the ball serves as a convenient handle or carrier of the ball in the subsequent operation oi dippingin the coating material. \Vhcn a carrierwire is not used there is also an irregularity of form of the ball at the spree-point, which maybe eitlu, an irregular uih or a depression. After the dipping in the coating, whether in the use ol' the carrier-wire or other device, the irregularity at the sprue-point is often a cause of a failure in protecting the alkali from the injurious action of theair. L.

It is the practice, as soon as the ball is coated, to nip oft the wire close to the coating and to pour upon the sprue-spot some of the melted coating material, with the intent to protect the weak spot; but this device is not effectual, for the reason that the melted material being pourcd upon a prominence, and there being no guide or restraint to the flow, it re goes down and away from the sprue spot and adheres where it is not desired, the defect is not remedied, and the symmetrical form of the ball is destroyed.

I find that a thin covering of the spree-spot is not su'tlieient, and especially in the case where the wire device is employed the air penetrates a thin coating to the wire, oxidizes and expands it. it results from this expansion of the wire that cracks in the coating originate at the spree-spot, and in a short time these wrecks; may creep under and through the whole coating. The air with its moisture and carbonic acid reaches the alkali through these cracks. and the alkali dissolves and runs away. Suehaballis said to leak. A leaky ball will destroy sound balls or other valuable goods with which it may be brought in contact.

To secure complete protection at the sprue spot I provide thereupon a thick and symmetrical coating. Having placed the ball upon a suitable rest or stand, the ball having -its sprue-spot upward, l lay upon it a heavy metal ring, so as to inclose the sprue-spot and to serve as a curb and mold for the melted coating material. I pour the melted coating material upon the sprue-spot until the space inclosed bythe ring is tilled. \Vhen the material is cold the curb n'iolding-ring is lifted off, and the operation is finished. The ring maybe an inch or less in diameter and about one-fourth of an inch high. The inner surface of the ring should not be cylindrical, buteonieal or sp' ieal, the diameter at top being less than at the bottom.

.The bossot my lll\'()]ltl0ll,lll addition to being acomplete preventive of the leaking originating at the sprue-spot, is a pleasing addition to the form of the ball, and may be made highly ornamental.

The accompanying drawing shows, in section, a coated alkaline ball, A, with the projeoting boss 0 and the mold-ring B B.

\Vha-t I claim is- A coated alkali ball or block having a symmetrical sealing-boss which extends beyond the general contour of the ball, said boss forming a part of the coating, and being placed over and upon the spree-spot, as described.

AARON MENDLESON.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. H NTER, WILLIAM H. LEwIs. 

